WRRB Tours Nico Mine Site
This July, Board members toured Fortune Mineral's NICO Project Site. The proposed mining development is located within Wek’èezhìı, approximately 50 km northeast of Whatì. The Board planned the tour to gain a better understanding of the terrain, water flow and environment at the mine site, as well as Fortune Mineral's project plans. Members wanted to visit the site before development occurs so they are able to compare before and after the proposed mining operation is underway.
The WRRB would like to thank Fortune Minerals, in particular Dr. Rick Schryer, Director of Regulatory and Environmental Affairs, and Carl Clouter, Director, who took the time to travel with the Board to the site and to give an informative and interesting tour.
The Photo Gallery at the end of this story has photos from the tour. Pictured in top photo:
From left: Carl Clouter, Fortune Minerals; James Rabesca, Tłı̨chǫ language translator; WRRB Board and staff members Steve Matthews, Bruce MacDonald, Grant Pryznyk, Eddie Chocolate, Jonas Lafferty, Archie Wetrade, Charlie Jeremick'ca, Suzanne Carrière and John McCullum; and Violet Mackenzie, Tłı̨chǫ language translator)
Fact Box:
- The NICO cobalt-gold-bismuth-copper deposit was discovered by Fortune Minerals in 1996.
- The permitting process for the NICO Project has been completed. In January 2014, Fortune Minerals was granted approval from the Wek'eezhii Land and Water Board to prepare land on its project for potential future development.
- The NICO project envisions constructing a mill and a concentrator at the NICO site. An all-weather access road linking the existing road outside of Whatì has also been proposed.
